Japan Fukuoka Weather in May — Climate Guide
May in Fukuoka is high
Fukuoka Weather in May — Quick Answer
As of 2026- Avg temp
- 23° / 15°
- Rainfall
- 130mm · 10 days
- Crowds
- Busy
As of 2026, Fukuoka in May averages a high of 23°C and low of 15°C with 130mm of rain over about 10 days. Warm. T-shirt + light layers. Light jacket evening. Sunglasses + hat. SPF 30 sunscreen as UV climbs. Comfortable walking shoes for the year's most-spectacular festival (Hakata Dontaku, 2 million spectators).
May is high for Fukuoka.
May is the festival month — Hakata Dontaku Matsuri (May 3-4) is the city's biggest annual event with 2 million spectators over 2 days, marching bands, dancing groups, and floats across Tenjin + Hakata. The trade-off: Golden Week (April 29-May 6) overlap means hotel rates 2-3x baseline for the festival week. Post-Golden Week (May 7-31) is the year's best value-for-weather window — pre-monsoon dry weather, 23°C / 73°F ideal temperatures, hotels back to mid-pricing. Honeymoon couples and slow-pace travelers target May 7-25 specifically. Pre-monsoon rain begins late month, increasing toward June's tsuyu.
Travel score
Golden Week + Hakata Dontaku Matsuri (700 years, 2M spectators)
May Weather at a Glance
May averages 73°F / 23°C highs and 59°F / 15°C lows — the year's best spring. 10 rainy days, 130mm (climbing toward tsuyu). Humidity 68% + 7 hours of sunshine. May 3-4 Hakata Dontaku Matsuri (700-year history, Japan's 2nd biggest spring festival, 2 million spectators) is the signature event of the month.
May Travel Advice
Short sleeves + cardigan + walking shoes. Golden Week (April 29-May 5) drives massive domestic Japanese travel. Hakata Dontaku Matsuri (May 3-4) is the city's biggest annual festival — book hotels 6 months ahead. Post-Golden Week (May 7-31) is value sweet spot. Pre-monsoon umbrella from mid-May.
Flying In from Overseas
Korean Children's Day + Buddha's Day + Golden Week stack — Asia-Fukuoka $350-620 round-trip first week. Late May post-holiday is the value window $170-280. Korean working professionals + Japanese inbound peak.
May Pricing Trends
Hakata Dontaku + Golden Week hotels 2x — Hakata Station 4-star $210-410/night first week. Post-Golden Week (May 7-31) normalizes to $125-220.
Fukuoka May Weather Stats
Avg High
23°C
Avg Low
15°C
Rainy Days
10
130mm total
Sunshine
7h
Daily avg
Humidity
68%
moderate
UV Index
6
High
Wind
8 km/h
Gusts 22
Sea Temp
19°C
swimming possible
Crowds
Busy
At attractions
May Sunrise & Sunset
Air Quality
PM2.5
16 μg/m³
PM10
26 μg/m³
Status
good
Feels-Like Temperature & Wind
Feels like
Daytime
24°C
Nighttime
15°C
Humidity and wind affect how the actual temperature feels.
Wind
8 km/h
Max gust 22 km/h
Activities Recommended for May
May Travel Pros & Cons
Pros
- Hakata Dontaku Matsuri (Japan's 2nd-largest spring festival)
- 23°C ideal weather
- Daylight 14h
- Post-Golden Week (May 7-31) value window
Cons
- Golden Week first week (May 3-6) peak crowds
- Pre-monsoon rain begins late month
- Hakata Dontaku week hotels 2-3x baseline
May Events & Festivals
- Hakata Dontaku Matsuri (May 3-4, 700-year history, Japan's 2nd-largest spring festival, 2 million spectators)
- Golden Week first week (May 3-6 holiday stack)
- Pre-monsoon shoulder window (May 7-31)
Fukuoka in May — Full Picture
May is the festival month — Hakata Dontaku Matsuri (May 3-4) is the city's biggest annual event with 2 million spectators over 2 days, marching bands, dancing groups, and floats across Tenjin + Hakata. The trade-off: Golden Week (April 29-May 6) overlap means hotel rates 2-3x baseline for the festival week. Post-Golden Week (May 7-31) is the year's best value-for-weather window — pre-monsoon dry weather, 23°C / 73°F ideal temperatures, hotels back to mid-pricing. Honeymoon couples and slow-pace travelers target May 7-25 specifically. Pre-monsoon rain begins late month, increasing toward June's tsuyu.
What to Wear & What to Pack
Warm. T-shirt + light layers. Light jacket evening. Sunglasses + hat. SPF 30 sunscreen as UV climbs. Comfortable walking shoes for the year's most-spectacular festival (Hakata Dontaku, 2 million spectators).
Packing Checklist
Seasonal Weather Overview
Spring (Mar·Apr·May)
Current19°C
11°C
10/mo
Summer (Jun·Jul·Aug)
29.7°C
22.7°C
12.3/mo
Autumn (Sep·Oct·Nov)
22.7°C
15.7°C
8.7/mo
Winter (Dec·Jan·Feb)
11°C
4°C
8.7/mo
Fukuoka Monthly Weather Comparison
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun | Humid | UV | Crowd | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10° | 3° | 9d·75mm | 4h | 65% | 2 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 11° | 4° | 8d·70mm | 5h | 65% | 3 | Quiet | Low season | |
| March (Best) | 15° | 7° | 10d·110mm | 6h | 65% | 4 | Busy | Peak |
| April (Best) | 19° | 11° | 10d·110mm | 7h | 65% | 5 | Very busy | Peak |
| 23° | 15° | 10d·130mm | 7h | 68% | 6 | Busy | Peak | |
| 26° | 19° | 14d·280mm | 5h | 75% | 7 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 31° | 24° | 14d·320mm | 5h | 75% | 9 | Very busy | Peak | |
| 32° | 25° | 9d·175mm | 6h | 73% | 9 | Busy | Peak | |
| 28° | 21° | 11d·175mm | 6h | 70% | 7 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| October (Best) | 23° | 16° | 7d·80mm | 7h | 65% | 5 | Busy | Peak |
| November (Best) | 17° | 10° | 8d·90mm | 5h | 65% | 3 | Busy | Peak |
| 12° | 5° | 9d·75mm | 5h | 65% | 2 | Moderate | Shoulder |
View Other Months
Fukuoka May Hotel Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is May a good time to visit Fukuoka?
Fukuoka in May is high. Tourist crowds are busy and flight/hotel prices are peak.
What's the average temperature in Fukuoka in May?
Fukuoka May averages a high of 23°C and a low of 15°C.
Does it rain much in Fukuoka in May?
Fukuoka May averages 130mm of rainfall over about 10 rainy days.
What should I wear in Fukuoka in May?
Warm. T-shirt + light layers. Light jacket evening. Sunglasses + hat. SPF 30 sunscreen as UV climbs. Comfortable walking shoes for the year's most-spectacular festival (Hakata Dontaku, 2 million spectators).
What time are sunrise and sunset in Fukuoka in May?
Fukuoka May sunrise is 05:30 and sunset is 19:30, with 14h of daylight.
What's the air quality like in Fukuoka in May?
Fukuoka May air quality (AQI) averages 45, rated Good. PM2.5 averages 16μg/m³.
What activities are recommended in Fukuoka in May?
In May, Fukuoka is great for Hakata Dontaku Matsuri (May 3-4), Itoshima beach (warming), Yufuin + Beppu day trips.
Is May peak season in Fukuoka?
Fukuoka May crowds are busy and prices are peak. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.
Best Months to Visit Fukuoka
View Other Months
Planning a May trip to Fukuoka?
You've checked the weather — next come the budget and the route.
Why you can trust weather guide
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.